Federal Register / Vol. 72, No.
21 / Thursday, February 1, 2007 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Klamath National Forest; California:
Round Valley Fuels Reduction and
Vegetation Management Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
SUMMARY: The Forest Service will
prepare an environmental impact
statement on a proposal to reduce fuels
and manage vegetation on about 18,700
acres on the Klamath National Forest in
Northern California. The proposal
intends to reduce the fuel hazard that
leads to uncontrollable wildfire,
improve forage for big game, reduce
juniper, enhance aspen, and to promote
a diverse and resilient forest.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
March 5, 2007. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected in
September 2007, and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected in December 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Margaret Boland, Forest Supervisor,
C/O Kelly Pavlica, Goosenest Ranger
District, 37805 Highway 97, Macdoel,
CA 96058. Electronic comments must be
submitted in a format such as an e-mail
message, plain text (.txt), rich text
format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to
comments-pacificsouthwest-klamath-
goosenest@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emelia Barnum, EIS Team Leader, (530)
398–4391, Ext. 5767, or Kelly Pavlica,
EIS Co-Team Leader (530) 398–4391,
Ext. 5730.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
project is located on the Goosenest
Ranger District of the Klamath National
Forest. The project area includes Cedar
Mountain and continues south to the
community of Tennant, California. The
legal location is in Township 45 North,
Range 1 East, Sections 23–26, 35, 36;
Township 45 North, Range 1 West,
Sections 19–21, 27–33; Township 44
North, Range 1 East, Sections 1–3, 10–
15, 21–28, 33–35; Township 44 North,
Range 1 West, Sections 5, 7, 18, 19–20,
29–30; and Township 43 North, Range
1 East, Sections 2, 3, 10, 11, 14 Mount
Diablo Meridian. This project is within
Management Areas 10 (Riparian
Reserve), 14 (Winter Range), 15 (Partial
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Retention), and 16 (Forage), as
designated by the Klamath National
Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan (LRMP). The project is also within
the boundaries of the federally
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4683
recognized wildland urban interface
(WUI) of the community of Tennant,
California. The project also
encompasses or is adjacent to other
outlying residential areas and private
property.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for action is as
follows:
• To reduce fuels in order to create a
defensible space for fire suppression
resources and to decrease the potential
for detrimental wildfire effects to the
overall project area, the community of
Tennant, outlying residents, and private
property.
• To improve big game habitat by
providing a well-distributed, patchy
mosaic of big game cover and browse
habitat and by reducing the density of
roads.
• To reduce the number of juniper
trees to produce forage for wildlife and
to allow herbaceous plants to grow.
• To promote thrifty, vigorous trees
resilient to environmental factors in
multiple stages of development.
• To encourage aspen in areas where
conifer encroachment is crowding out
the species.
The existing condition of the project
area (described below) does not meet
the desired conditions described in the
LRMP.
• Stand replacing wildfires could take
place in much of the project area, due
to surface fuels, understory vegetation,
and dense stand conditions. A potential
exists for wildfires to detrimentally
affect the community of Tennant,
outlying residents, and private property.
• Ponderosa pine stands within the
project area are overstocked for the dry
site and highly susceptible to insect-
induced mortality, disease and stand
replacing fires. These stands are both
plantations, planted mostly in the
1980s, and stands that were naturally
regenerated after turn of the 20th
century railroad logging. Currently,
natural regeneration is limited in many
of these areas due to poor site
conditions. Because of this, several
stands in the southern portion of the
project area are predominately even-
aged.
• Mixed-conifer stands on Cedar
Mountain are overstocked for the dry
site and highly susceptible to insect-
induced mortality, disease and stand
replacing fires. Regeneration is
abundant in the Cedar Mountain area.
Many of the larger, older trees in the
area are in poor condition due to
increased competition for water and
nutrients by the encroachment of trees
and brush.
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• Western juniper has expanded its
range, altering site conditions and
vegetative structure and composition.
Due to the expansion of juniper,
available forage for big game has
decreased, and the potential for an
uncontrollable wildfire to occur has
increased.
• Nearly all stands contain a high
component of mature to decadent
bitterbrush that is in decline. Decadent
bitterbrush is less palatable for deer
because it produces less leader growth,
which is what deer consume as browse.
Decadent bitterbrush is more flammable
due to the accumulation of dead plant
material, and the plants are more
susceptible to mortality from wildfire.
The younger age class is absent from
many of the mature and decadent
bitterbrush stands, and is needed for
future replacement of browse.
• Aspen stands are being replaced by
conifers near Antelope Creek, due to
shading and resource competition.
Aspen trees require abundant sunlight
to thrive. In addition to abundant
sunlight, young aspen require protection
from browsing in order to establish.
Aspen is considered a keystone species
that provides biodiversity across the
landscape.
Proposed Action
The Klamath National Forest proposes
the following actions to move toward
LRMP desired conditions (the total
acreage proposed for treatment is about
18,700 acres within the 20,100-acre
planning area):
Treatments will include the following:
• Prescribed underburning:
Approximately 6,440 acres will be
underburned in varying intensities to
reduce fuels, change future fire
behavior, and promote a mosaic of
browse age classes and herbaceous seral
stages.
• Brush/small tree mowing:
Approximately 330 acres will be mowed
with light mechanical equipment to
lower fuel bed heights and promote a
mosaic of browse age classes.
• Defensible space: Along forest roads
45N10 and 43N20, vegetation will be
reduced within 150 feet of the road to
provide a defensible space for
firefighters in the event of a wildfire.
Mowing, thinning, and prescribed
underburning will be used as needed to
create the defensible space. These
treatments will primarily target brush
and ladder fuels.
• Juniper reduction: Approximately
3,620 acres of juniper reduction is
planned throughout the planning area.
Where continuous stands of juniper
exist, the larger, older trees will be
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 4684 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 21 / Thursday, February 1, 2007 / Notices
retained as well as patches of juniper to
provide wildlife cover and biodiversity.
• Aspen enhancement:
Approximately 7 acres of conifers will
be removed in order to promote the
regeneration of aspen near Antelope
Creek. The largest conifers and snags
will be retained where safety permits.
These acres would not be contiguous
but, wherever possible, be placed
around openings and locations where
aspen is already present.
• Thinning from below:
Approximately 8,750 acres in natural
stands and 2,520 acres in plantations
will be thinned to variable spacing. The
goal is to reduce aerial and ladder fuels
and tree densities, and to promote and
maintain larger, more resilient trees,
while retaining beneficial elements to
wildlife such as structural diversity.
Occasionally, we will culture a large
tree with desired characteristics by
removing trees around it up to one tree-
length in distance. Plantation thinning
will include concurrent brush mowing.
• Planting: Across the southern
portion of the project area,
approximately 10% of the openings will
be planted where natural regeneration
failed following turn of the twentieth
century railroad logging. These sites
will be prepared for planting, and
ponderosa pine will be planted. This
will begin the development of new age
classes within ponderosa pine stands
where natural regeneration is scarce.
Trees planted will be spaced to a width
that will reduce the future fire hazard
usually associated with dense
plantations.
• Bald eagle habitat enhancement:
Approximately 135 acres will be
identified for bald eagle emphasis. This
area will be managed according to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific
Bald Eagle Recovery Plan to promote
habitat required by bald eagles for long-
term nesting and roosting. The bald
eagle is a federally listed Threatened
species.
Standard design features, such as
protection of heritage sites and no-
treatment buffers around caves, will be
used. Untreated wildlife areas and
variable intensities of treatment will
protect resources and provide
biodiversity. These non-treatment areas
are not included in the above acreage
estimates. Forest Service crews, service
contracts, stewardship contracts and/or
commercial timber sales may implement
these actions. All harvesting and
mowing activities will be ground-based.
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Wherever possible, tree tops and limbs
will be skidded to the landing to
minimize activity-generated slash.
Borax will be applied to cut surfaces of
stumps 14 inches and greater to prevent
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development of annosus root disease
infection centers.
To facilitate stand access for project
activities, a few temporary road spurs
will be created or reopened, and several
existing unauthorized roads will be
used. Approximately 4 miles of new
temporary road spurs will be closed and
re-vegetated after project
implementation. In an effort to bring
roads from an unmanaged condition to
a managed condition, up to 17 miles of
existing unauthorized roads that are
needed for travel management and
access will be added to Forest System,
and about 13 miles of existing roads
(both authorized and unauthorized) will
be closed.
Roads proposed for closure are:
44N10Y.2, 44.14.3, 44N28.1, 44N92,
22N93.1C, 44N93.1C1, 45N10A,
45N10B, 45N10C, 45N10D, 45N10E,
45N10F, 45N11A.1, 45N21Y.1, 5Q003.1,
5Q003.2, 6Q003.1, and 6Q003.1A. A
seasonal closure from January 1 to
August 31 is proposed for 45N10
(approximately 3.2 miles north of
county road 6Q003 at the existing gate).
Responsible Official
Margaret Boland, Forest Supervisor,
Klamath National Forest, 1312 Fairlane
Road, Yreka, CA 96097–9549.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decision to be made is whether to
implement the action as proposed, not
to implement the Proposed Action, or to
implement an alternative.
Scoping Process
If you have information you feel the
Forest Service may not be aware of, or
feel you have issues (points of dispute,
debate, or disagreement) regarding
potential effects of this proposed action,
please contact Kelly Pavlica at the
Goosenest Ranger District, 37805
Highway 97, Macdoel, CA 96058, (530)
398–4391, within 30 days of publication
of this notice. We will use any
significant issues that are identified to
develop alternatives to the Proposed
Action.
All input and comments received
during project planning are a matter of
public record. Names and addresses of
participants are not confidential. If you
are interested participating in a field
visit to the proposed project area please
contact Kelly Pavlica at the number
listed above. A field trip with interested
participants will be arranged.
Permits or Licenses Required
We are requesting temporary road
access to the northern portion of the
project area from a private landowner.
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Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. For questions about
the project, please contact Kelly Pavlica
at (530) 398–4391.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft
environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. The comment
period on the draft environmental
impact statement will be 45 days from
the date the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this
early stage, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings
related to public participation in the
environmental review process. First,
reviewers of draft environmental impact
statements must structure their
participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer’s position and contentions.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.
NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,
environmental objections that could be
raised at the draft environmental impact
statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final
environmental impact statement may be
waived or dismissed by the courts. City
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,
1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of
these court rulings, it is very important
that those interested in this proposed
action participate by the close of the 45
day comment period so that substantive
comments and objections are made
available to the Forest Service at a time
when it can meaningfully consider them
and respond to them in the final
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the
alternatives formulated and discussed in
the statement. Reviewers may wish to
refer to the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
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 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 21 / Thursday, February 1, 2007 / Notices
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: January 23, 2007.
Margaret J. Boland,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E7–1606 Filed 1–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
AGENCY:
Notice and request for
ACTION:
comments.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the
Rural Utilities Service an agency
delivering the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development
Utilities Programs, invites comments on
this information collection for which
approval from the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) will be requested.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by April 2, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michele Brooks, Acting Director,
Program Development & Regulatory
Analysis, USDA Rural Development,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP
1522, Room 5168 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250–1522.
Telephone: (202) 690–1078. FAX: (202)
720–8435.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implanting
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires
that interested members of the public
and affected agencies have an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping activities
(see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice
identifies an information collection that
RUS is submitting to OMB for
extension.
Comments are invited on (a) whether
the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of burden including
the validity of the methodology and
VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:47 Jan 31, 2007 Jkt 211001
assumption used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques on
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to: Joyce
McNeil, Program Development and
Regulatory Analysis, USDA Rural
Development, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW., Room 5166-South, STOP 1522,
Washington, DC 20250–1522. FAX:
(202) 720–8435.
Title: 7 CFR part 1777, Section 306C
Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) Loans
and Grants.
OMB Control Number: 0572–0109.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Section 306C of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926c)
authorizes the Rural Utilities Service to
make loans and grants to low-income
rural communities whose residents face
significant health risks. These
communities do not have access to, or
are not served by, adequate affordable
water supply systems or waste disposal
facilities. The loans and grants will be
available to provide water and waste
disposal facilities and services to these
communities, as determined by the
Secretary.
The Section 306C WWD Loans and
Grants program is administered through
7 CFR part 1777.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 9 hours per
response.
Respondents: Not for profits; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 9 hours.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Joyce McNeil,
Program Development and Regulatory
Analysis, at (202) 720–0812. FAX: (202)
720–4120.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Dated: January 24, 2007.
James M. Andrew,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E7–1579 Filed 1–31–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–15–P
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4685
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Sunshine Act Notice
DATE AND TIME: Friday, February 9, 2007.
9 a.m.
PLACE: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
624 Ninth Street, NW., Rm. 540,
Washington, DC 20425.
COMMISSION MEETING: U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights, Friday, February 9,
2007, 624 Ninth Street, NW., Rm. 540,
Washington, DC 20425, 9 a.m.
MEETING AGENDA
I. Approval of Agenda.
II. Approval of Minutes of January 26
Meeting.
III. Announcements.
IV. Staff Director’s Report.
V. Management and Operations:
• Quality Information Guidelines.
VI. Program Planning:
• Program Planning FY 2009.
• Affirmative Action in Law Schools
Briefing Report.
• Domestic Wiretapping.
VII. State Advisory Committee Issues:
• Alabama SAC.
VIII. Future Agenda Items.
IX. Adjourn.
Dated: January 30, 2007.
David Blackwood,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 07–465 Filed 1–30–07; 2:49 pm]
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Census
Request for Nominations of Members
To Serve on the Census Advisory
Committee on the African American
Population
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census,
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for
nominations.
SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census
(Census Bureau) is requesting
nominations of individuals to the
Census Advisory Committee on the
African American Population. The
Census Bureau will consider
nominations received in response to this
notice, as well as from other sources.
The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this notice provides
Committee and membership criteria.
DATES: Please submit nominations by
February 22, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations
to Edwina Jaramillo, Race and Ethnic
Advisory Committee Program
Coordinator, Census Advisory
E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM 01FEN1